Block-signaling device.



W. 6: A. H. FEGHNER.

BLOCK SIGNALING DEVIGR APPLIOATION TILED JULY. 23; 1997.

900,360, Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 sum/"Co's W. & A. H. FEGHNER. BLOCK SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1907.

900,360. Patented 0013.6,1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

0mm, S, v

W. & A. H. PEGHNBR.

BLOCK SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1907.

Patented 001;. 6,1908.

Suva-r01 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WILLIAM FEOHNER AND ALBERT HENRY FECHNER, OF GOLIAD, TEXAS.

BLOCK-SIGNALING DE VICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

- Application filed July 28, 1907. Serial No. 385,107.

T 0 all wh0m it may concern:

Be 1t known that we, 'ZWILLIAM FECHNER and ALBERT HENRY FEoHNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Goliad, in the county of Goliad and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Signalin Devices; and we do hereby declare the fol owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in block signaling devices, and particularly to signalingdevices which will operate audible signals and electric bells and connect up a tele hone at the same time.

e invention comprises the production of a plurality of wires divided into blocks for conveying electrical energy, and means mounted upon trains in proximity to said wires for sendin signals over the Wires whenever two trams enter the same block or whenever a train approaches an open switch.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a trolley mounted upon a 1000- motive and designed to be raised and lower cd from the interior of the cab thereof and to be set in various positions as may be desired for permitting signals to be transmitted from the engine to the wires against which the trolley rests.

The invention further comprises the roduction of a block signaling system in W ich a plurality of wires are provided, one of which is designed to be used for a te'le hone and the others for/transmitting signa s, toether with means secured to a locomotive for connecting the telephone -wires andsignal wires to proper instruments in the cab of the engine for providing means for transmitting. messages from one engine to another in the same block and for si nalin each engine and for providing a si naI for t e engine upon the approach .of t e same to an open switch. r

A further object in "iew is the production of a block system in which signaling wires are provided at one side of atrack which are designed to contact with a trolley upon locomotives passingover the track for providing means for transmitting messages from one locomotive to the other within the signal block orfor signaling any locomotive upon approachingl an open switch of the'condition o the switc A further object of the invention is the provision of a trolley mounted upon a locomotive that is designed to be swung from one side to the other of the locomotive by mechanism mounted within the cab of a locomotive so that the trolley may at all times be in proper position for engaging signal carrying wires ositioned at one sideof the track.

Wit these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view of a block signaling system constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a locomotive, parts being broken away, in connection with my improved trolley and surrounding parts. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fi 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the turn table forme according to the present invention; the same being shown in section to better disclose the mechanism thereof, and showing a trolley connected thereto, parts bein broken away. Fig. 5 is a top plan view part y in section of an electrical switch device connected to a switch of a railroad track. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the harp of a trolley formed according to the resent invention. Fig. 7 is an end view of t e harp shown in Fi 6 taken in connection with a hanger and tro ley wire.

Fig.8 is a detail fragmentary view of one end of the trolley and surrounding mechanism. Fig. 9 is a section through Fig. 8 on line 9, the section being taken looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 10 is a detail fragmentary sectional view of anti-friction means and surrounding parts forming part of the present invention.

In rovidin a signaling system-it has-been foun desirab e in many instances to not only signal a train when the same ap roaches an open switch or other train, an notify the same that there is dan er ahead, but it has also been found desira le to provide means for telephonin between the approaching train in addition to simply si naling the same that there is danger ahea Various devices have beenconstructed with varying results for accom lishing these desirable re sults, and it is to t is class of devices that the present invention relates. In the accompanying drawings, which show one form of the nvention, 1 indicates a railroad track of any ordinary construction,

and 2 a track switch. Positioned atone side of the track 1 are wires 3, 4 and 5 that may be supported in any manner as by poles 6 so as to old the-wires a certain distance from the track and parallel therewith. The wire 4 is 7 is made with depending su porting portions 8, 9 and for su porting t e varlous wires, the portions 8 and 10 being on substantially the same plane while the portion 9 is positioned on a different plane. All the depending portions 8, 9 and 10 are. ro'vided with insu a tion'blocks I1 and 12 or insulating the wire supporting members 13, 14 and 15 from the hanger 7. By this construction, the wires 3, 4 and 5 are firmly held in position in different horizontal planes and insulated fromeach other and at the same time protected from the weather, but also positioned so ,as to be .easily brought into contact with contact members of a harp 16 mounted on the end of the trolley pole 1.7. The halip 16 is provided with contact members or ro ers 18,

19 and 20 for contacting with the res ective wires 3, 4 and 5. The contact mem ers 18 and 20 are preferably formed spool-shaped so as to provide a comparatively large surface a ainst which wires 3 and 5 may contact. Tie harp 16 is made with fins or bracing members 21 and 22 that project over wheels 18 and 20 at 18' and 20 n so that when placing the bar in position either'of the wires 3 or 4' will be rought over into their correct positionwijilpon the contact wheels as fins 21 and 22, guide the same into position. Forming a part of the harp 16 are'members 23 and 24 that project upward from the main part of the harp and carry rollers or contact members 19. As clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 6 contact members 19 are positioned an equal distance on each side of members 18 and 20. By this construction the harp 16 is balanced nicely against the central upper wire 4 by wheels 19 being spaced a art and also against the lower wires 3 and 5 wheels 18 and 20. Referring more particulitrly to Fig. 7 it will be seen that wheels or contact members 19 are insulated from'the harp b having its axle 25 mounted in insulate blocks 26.1

Suitable anti-friction means as ball bearings 27 is provided for members 19 so thatthe same will 0 erate easily and smoothly against wire 4. is is very desirable as wire 4 is the tele hone wire, and a continuous even contact is desirable. Mounted upon extensions or members 23 and 24 are springs 28 and 29, which are insulated .frommembers 23 and 24 and form frictional contact with Wheels 19 for receiving current therefrom. Suitable connecting wires are rovided for connecting springs 28 and 29 to t 1e telephone instrument 30, mounted in the cab of the locomotive. The other end of the telephone instrument 30 is connected to the earth so that the circuit may be completed to either telephone set 31 of an approaching train, and

all connected with stations as may be desired. In operation it is preferable to place the wires 3, 4 and 5 only upon one side of the track rather than above the track. In order to provide a trolley that may be'turned from one side of the track to the other and to be held in any osition desired, we provide a mechanism t at will easily and qu1ckly convey the trolle from one-side of the track to the other an hold the same in the correct osition. Referring more particularly to ig. 4,32 may be termed a turn table and is composed-of a rotating part or member 33 and a stationary part or member 34 that is rigidly secured to the cab 35 of an engine. The top of the turn table 32 may be provided with a cap of any desired construction for rotecting the mechanism of the turn table rom the weather. Positioned on the face of the revolving member 33 is a washer 36 formed with an elongated opening 37 through which an oscillating member 38 projects. The member 36 is rigidly secured to the rotating member 33 and in turn has secured thereto a lever 39 which is provided with a catch 40 that en ages a rack upon stationary member 34. henever it lSi desired to change the position of the rotating member 33 the latch or catch 40 is disengaged and lever 39 is moved to any desired extent and then catch 40 is permitted to engage its rack which will lock rotating member 33 firmly in position. Spanning or passing beneath opening 37 is a sector 41 formed with a rack upon 'one edge that isdesigned to be engaged by a.

shaft 43 WhlCh 1.I1 turn is provided with a gear 44 on one end and a hand wheel 45 upon the o posite end.- Gear 44 meshes with gear 46 w hich in turn is rigidly secured to a shaft 47 that is provided at the end opposite to gear 46 with a gear 48.v The shaft 47 is designed to pass throughan arm 49,positioned substantially horizontally forproviding a sup port for trolley 17. Arm 49 is provided with anenlarged portion orhead 50 in which is mounted gear48 andgear 51.

Formed upon the end of trolley pole 17 is an'enlarged portion or head- 52 that is designed to contact with head 50 and is held in position against the same by tension bolts 53 and tension spring 54. The head 52 is head 50 is formed with formed with beveled wa s 55 and 56 and the eveled wa s 57 and 58, as clearly seen in Figs. 8 an 9. The b'evels-55, 56, 57 and '58. are so formed that when the trolley is at right angles to the arm 49, and paralle with the track that the face or converging part of the beveled portions are parallel with arm 49. Anti-fric'tion members 59 and 60 are mounted in the head 52 and designed to bear against the beveled portions 57 and 58- of head'50 whenever head'52 is moved out of'its normal position. When head 52 is in its normal'pos'ition with trolle 17 pointing at right angles to arm 49, antlfriction members 59 and 60 rest in depressions or notches 61 and 62 and permit the beveled portions 55, 56, 57 and58 to contact with each other, the spring 54 continually giving the heads 50 and 52 a tendency to take their normal position. Head 52 is formed with a lug or extension 63 that is formed with a hollow, preferably square, for. engaging the squared portion 64 formed integral with gear 51, so that whenever gear 51 is rotated head 52 will be rotated, the lug 63 permitting head 52 to rotate and yet to be actuated by extension 64.

When operating the trolley the same may be easily manipulated from the cab of the engine by means of levers 38- and 39, and gripping wheel 45. When it is desired to move the trolley from one side of the track to the other, lever 38 is disengaged'at 42 whereby the trolley is disengaged from lines or dropped as shown at Fig. 2, then lever 39. is moved half a revolution-which will'rotate member tated until trolley 17 is in its properposition and the trolley is raised up against wires, then leftfree to oscillate back and forth as may be desired by the incidental swaying of I trolley 17, as the same passes switches or round curves. Whenever it. is desired to lower trolley 17 lever 65 is moved and catch 42 is disengaged from the rack or member 41 and lever 38 is swung toianydesired degree and catch 42 is permitted to again enga e the latch or member 41, lever 38 being ri it 1y secured to arm 49 will partially rotate t e same which, in turn, will artially rotate or lower trolley pole 170 clear y seen in dotted lines in Fi 2;

lteferrin more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, there wih'be observed a device that is de-' signed to connect up or close. the circuit of wire 3 when switch 2 is opened. When the track 2 is opened connecting rod or bar 66 will move arm 67 and shaft 68 a short distance so that the contact member 69 that is secured to shaft 68 will be in such a position as to-contact with spring 7 0. When spring 70 is brought into contact with contact member 69, a circuit from line 3 is closed through wire 71-so that any train approaching switch 2 will be notified of the condition of the switch. When the switch is again closed contact member 69 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 and'an insulating block 72 is forced beneath contact springs 70 and interrupts the circuit of line 3. I Shaft 68 is referably connected to the ordinary visua signaling device, as, for instance, the ordinary safety and danger lam so that when switch 2 is o erated the visua sign is operated and also t e signaling system is brought into operation.

'In operation when a train is approaching a switch which is not open, that is a clear track, there will be no signal, but if the switch is open (which will close electric contact) then as soon as the cab enters the block in which the switch is located, line wire 3 at 81 will complete the circuit of hell 28. If, however, a train going in the direction of arrow 73 will move so that its contact members 18, 19 and 20 will be in the position shown in dotted lines, the signal will be given each train.

the train is moved to the position just indicated, a current will be completed from battery 77 through bell 28, contact members plane, the telephone line wire being strung in the center and about 12 inches above the two outside bell Wires. Wire 3 is opened or insulated at 81, while wire 5 is opened or insulated at 82. When two trains enter the same block not only are the telephones ofboth trains connected up, but also the alarms are sounded for indicating to each train that there is another train within the block. By the use of the connecting rod 66 whenever switch 2 is opened, wire 3 is connected to the earth so that whenever a train a proachcs switch 2 or enters the block in which switch 2 is located a circuit is completed through the arm 78'or 79 as the case may be.

It will be observed that'the wires 3 and 5 are disconnected at predetermined distances, as, for instance, six miles. the point of disconnection of one wire being midway of disconnection of the other wire, so that between each disconnection there is a distance of three miles. It is so arranged that though the blocks formed by each wire is 'six miles, the blocks formed by the combination of both wires is three miles so that trains approach n ing each other may come to a distance of three miles of each other before the signals in the respective cabs are sounded. When two trains have approached each other to Within a distance of three miles, the signals will be sounded and then the telephone may be used by simply removing the receivers from the res ective hooks and oral communication esta lished between thetwo trains. It will also be observed that not only two trains" approaching each other will cause the sigpals to operate, but when, one train overta es the other and comes within three miles of the train the signals will be operated. The telephones of course may be used by ringing up in the usual manner before two trains come within a distance of three miles of each other, but the signals will not operate until the trains come within such distance.

The system of signaling will act upon the block of crossing trains in the similar manner to a straight line. As seen in Fig. 1 line 3 is connected to line 3 of a cross track and line 5 is connected to 5 of the same cross track. Usually the telephone line 4 is not connected to the telephone line 4 of the cross track, but if desirable, the same may be connected for providing telephone communication between trains ap'pg'oahing the crossing on various tracks. y this construction the block on each side of the crossing of each track is connected so that signals will be sounded upon the cross track as well as block straight ahead whenever a train approaches the crossing on either track.

What we claim is 1. The combination with a block signaling system, ,of a trolley mountedupon a train the same comprising a stationary casing, a rotating casing, an arm mounted on said rotatingcasing and adapted to be rotated thereby, a trolley mounted on one end of said arm, said arm having at its outer end a V shaped portion and said trolley having at its lower end an inverted V shaped portion for fitting into the sha ed ortion of said arm, a bolt for holding sai trolley and said arm together, and a spring for permitting said trolley to be rotated upon said arm.

2. The combination with a signaling sys tem of a trolley mechanism mounted upon an engine for permitting signals to be conveyed from said signaling system to said train, said mechanism comprising a stationa member, a rotating member, an arm ri idly secured to said rotating member, a tro ley mounted on said arm, a plurality of gear for rotating said arm, means for rotating said gear from said stationary member, alever for raising and lowering said trolley, a rack, and a catch secured to said lever for engaging said rack for holding said trolley in any desired osition.

3. he combination with a signaling system of a trolley mounted on a locomotwe of said arm formed with a depending lug, a

ear mounted in one end of said rotating arm formed witlran engaging member, said engaging member being ada ted to engage said depending lu whereby w en said gear is rotated said tro ley will be rotated, a shaft for,

rotating said gear, a hand wheel for rotatin said shaft, and means connecting said hand wheel and said shaft for permitting power from said hand wheel to be communicated to said shaft.

5. The combination with a si naling system of a trolley mounted upon a%ocomotive, a rotating arm for supporting said trolley formed W1th a plurality of beveled surfaces, said surfaces forming a V shaped member, a trolley formed with a plurality of beveled surfaces adapted to engage sa1d first mentioned beveled surfaces, a s ring for normally holding all of said beve ed surfaces in contact, thereby -holding said trolley at rightangles to said supporting arm, and means for rotating said tro ey.

6. The combination with a block signal system, of a trolley mechanism mounted upon a train, the same comprising a stationary casin a rotating casing, an arm mounted on said rotating casing, and adapted to be rotated thereby, a trolley mounted on one end of said arm, said arm and said trolley at their meeting points being formed with beveled portions, and means for normally holding saidbeveled portions in contact.

7. The combination with a signaling sys tem, of a trolley mechanism mounted upon an engine for permitting signals to be conveyed from said signaling system to said trains, said mechanism comprising a stationary member, a rotating member, ,an arm rigidly secured to said rotating member, a trolley mounted on said arm, means for rotating said trolley means for raising and lowering said trolley, and means for locking said trolley in any desired position.

8. The combination with a si naling system, of a trolley mounted on afiocomotive, comprising a rotating arm, means for rotating the same, a trolley mounted on one end of said arm, and formed with a hollow depending lug, a gear mounted in one end of said rotating arm and formed with a projecting arm, said projecting arm of said gear being adapted to fit into said hollow depending lug on said trolley whereby when said gear is rotated, said trolley will be rotated, and means for rotating sa1d gear.

, 9. The combination with alilock signaling ley' arm" at fight angles to said su porting 10 system, of a trolley mounted uponalooo 'oarm, and mea'nsfor rotating said tro ey arm.

t1ve,a rotating arm for su porting said trol- In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- 'ley formed with a bevele surface, atrolley" tures in resence of two witnesses.

5 formed with a beveled surface on one end for I ILLIAM FECHNER.

contact with the beveled surface of said sup- ALBERT HENRY FEOHNER. Egrting arm anti-friction means interposed Witnesses: v

tween said trolley arm and said supporting J. R. SANDERFUR,

arm, a spring for normally holding said trol- Wu. L. Fnomm. 

